Roots! by Anna Cicala

During a hike in Tobermory, overlooking the scenic Bruce Peninsula, the photographer encountered a massive, ancient tree that served as a profound meditation on time. Struck by the tree's enduring presence, the photographer reflected on the human experience, drawing parallels between the tree's silent history and the generational stories passed down through human ancestry. This image captures that sense of timelessness and connection, transforming a natural landscape into a poignant narrative about legacy. It is an award-worthy composition that invites viewers to contemplate the deep, interconnected stories shared between the natural world and our own human journey.

Roots! by Anna Cicala
Copyright Β© Anna Cicala
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Anna Cicala

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born and raised in Canada, Anna Cicala is a dedicated photographer with a deep-seated passion for nature and wildlife. She believes firmly in the power of imagery to evoke profound thought and emotion, viewing her photographs as essential time stamps that document the fleeting nature of life. Based in Ontario, she travels the globe to capture moments that resonate with viewers, striving to inspire others through her work and encourage a more impactful connection to the world around them.

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9.7/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
155/500
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SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
5,255 views | 7 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date June 27, 2021
60.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 11.0
Clarity 11.0
Composition 16.0
Style 11.0
Skill 11.0
Photograph Location
Tobermory, Canada

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Anna Cicala Photography
Nature Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (9.5/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
2.7/5 points
535/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
5,255/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.2/5 points
4/100 Review
Submissions
1.6/5 points
155/500 Submission
Jury Score: 60.0/80
Resonance Score: 9.5/20
Total Award Score: 69.5/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 3

Nadia Osei Cultural Representation, Authenticity & the Ethics of the Gaze Expert Review
Ancient roots clawing at the Bruce Peninsula’s limestone feel heavy, yet I’m left cold. Why does Cicala insist on mapping human ancestry onto a cedar that doesn't care about our legacies? It’s a classic nature trope, but it feels like an imposition. Does the tree exist for us, or are we just projecting our own fragility onto its survival? I find the sentimentality distracting. Why must we colonize the wild with our own stories?
Catherine Byrne Photographic History, Canon & the Long View Expert Review
The gnarled, serpentine roots here echo the stark, rhythmic textures of Edward Weston’s Point Lobos studies, yet they lack his rigorous formal tension. While the Bruce Peninsula’s geology demands a certain gravitas, the composition feels caught between a documentary impulse and a sentimental reach for metaphor. I’ve spent decades tracing these arboreal lines, but this piece doesn't quite push past the familiar. It’s lovely, truly, but I’m still waiting for that singular, jarring perspective I haven't seen before.
Julian Rowe Experimental Photography, Motion & Alternative Visual Languages Expert Review
Tobermory’s ancient roots deserve more than a postcard-perfect rendering. While the jury rewarded its clarity, I’m left craving a deeper dissolution of form. Why resolve every texture when the subject is time itself? I’d have preferred a long-exposure blur, echoing Sugimoto’s temporal ghosts rather than this static documentation. It’s technically competent, sure, but it feels safe. I’m genuinely frustrated by the missed opportunity to let the tree’s history bleed into the frame’s edges.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Farida Boussouf

What Stays Underneath

It is 3:14 am. The house is holding its breath, and I am finally listening to the things I bury under the noise of the sun. We spend our lives trying to grow upward, reaching for light, desperate to be seen by the sky.

Read the reflection →
By Rashid Noor

The Weight of What Remains

If a life is measured by the depth of its reach into the earth, are we merely the surface of a story that began long before we drew breath?

Read the reflection →

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